Welcome to The Smooth Jazz Cruise!

The Smooth Jazz Cruise was the first full ship charter dedicated to contemporary and “smooth” jazz. From its first sailing in 2005, the cruise has become one of the most important events in the contemporary jazz world, uniting jazz lovers and artists from all over the world for a week at sea celebrating the music, people and history of this beloved genre. This amazing event is more commonly referred to as The Greatest Party at Sea…because that is what it is!

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’16.1 and ’16.2 continues more than a decade of excellence in programming, music and just plain fun. All 17 prior sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise been sold out months before sailing, so NOW is the time to book your cabin on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’16.1 or ’16.2.

This program is presented by Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC, the world’s leader in jazz cruises, having produced around 55 full ship charters, mostly featuring jazz, throughout the world.

Features

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

FAQ

Do you have questions about transportation, amenities, shows? These are some of the many answers among other we have for you.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE OUR
OPENING ACT?

TALENT CONTEST

A fun talent competition where you have the chance to perform for your fellow guests with our resident band.

CONTEMPORARY SOUNDS
NEWSLETTER

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Each month we reflect on what’s new and exciting in the world of contemporary jazz and The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Review past issues of Jazz Cruises Notes: Contemporary Sounds

INTERVIEWS WITH
THE ARTISTS

HEAR FROM THE BEST IN CONTEMPORARY JAZZ

With world-class musicians in attendance Guests can anticipate thrilling interaction and interviews with the artists throughout the week.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise Experience

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE is proud to present the finest artists in the world of contemporary jazz. Long ago, The Smooth Jazz Cruise transcended its label and featured not only those artists who helped to build and sustain the “smooth jazz” world, but also other instrumentalists and vocalists whose talents and music fit nicely into our overall theme of presenting the best “adult” music around. The Smooth Jazz Cruise has always been a one-of-a-kind musical experience. It is truly a vacation for adults, for people who want to have a great time at sea experiencing wonderful music, dancing the night away and sharing time with 2,000 like-minded folks who just love to have fun. Probably the only continuous theme of the cruise is “quality”... the best music, the best ship, the best times and the best experience.

Getting to Know Our Artists

George Benson

With the first platinum jazz album and 10 Grammys among his musical feats, George Benson has accomplished more in his career than most musicians can fathom – and few will ever realize. But the culmination of his musical journey would have to be his most recent project in which he honors his idol, Nat King Cole.

Marcus Miller

Marcus Miller, winner of two Grammy Awards, the 2013 Edison Award for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz (Holland), the 2010 Victoire du Jazz (France) and appointed UNESCO Artist for Peace in 2013, is not only an exceptional musician – a multi-instrumentalist and world-renown bassist – but also a highly gifted composer and producer.

David Sanborn

For David Sanborn, learning to play a musical instrument proved both life changing and life sustaining. Introduced at a young age to the saxophone as part of his recovery from polio, the natural found himself playing with legends like Albert King and Little Milton by age 14. Twenty-four albums and six Grammy Awards later, David Sanborn is largely credited with returning the saxophone to relevance in contemporary rock, pop and R&B.

Boney James

The preeminent face of urban jazz, sax virtuoso Boney James weaves hip hop, R&B andLatin flavors into our lineup on The Smooth Jazz Cruise. A student of the saxophone since age 10, he did session work for the Isley Brothers, Randy Crawford and Ray ParkerJr. prior to launching his solo career in 1992.

Brian Culbertson

As musical repertoires go, it doesn’t get much more varied that that of Brian Culbertson. Adept at the piano, drums, trombone and bass, Brian Culbertson’s career has taken him beyond writing, recording, producing and touring and into the advertising arena to compose jingles for the likes of United Airlines, Coors and McDonald’s.

Candy Dulfer

Having toured the world over and collaborated with some of the biggest names in music (think Prince, Van Morrison, Lionel Richie and Beyonce), Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer brings her worldly musical perspective to The Smooth Jazz Cruise.

Peabo Bryson

Coined the “Pavarotti of soul singers” by The New York Times, Peabo Bryson made music history as the first artist to have separate records topping four different charts. Among those immensely popular hits are his duet with Roberta Flack, “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love,” and single “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” both of which went to No. 1 on the adult contemporary charts.

Jonathan Butler

The first black artist played on white South African radio during Apartheid, Jonathan Butler has defied odds on the music front as well with hits that are broadcast on pop, urban, contemporary jazz, adult contemporary and gospel radio the world over.

Richard Elliot

Imagine how the juices will flow on the high seas for saxophonist Richard Elliot, who says he gets much of his creative inspiration from behind the wheel of his car in L.A. traffic. Returning to The Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2016, The Scottish-born musician has been on the music scene for more than three decades and released his 17th solo album, “Lip Service,” in July 2014.

Grace Kelly

When it comes to singer/ saxophonist/ composer/ lyricist/ arranger/ producer/ educator Grace Kelly, people seem to be divided into two groups: those who marvel at her proficiency, creativity and ever-accelerating growth, and those who have yet to encounter the 21-year-old wunderkind.

Eric Marienthal

After graduating high school in Southern California in 1976, Eric went on to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. There he studied with the legendary saxophone professor, Joe Viola. By the time he left Berklee, Eric had achieved the highest proficiency rating given by the school.

Ricky Peterson

A life long Minnesotan whose sound has always focused on a characteristically “Minneapolis” sound, Ricky Peterson is best known for his now 20 year association with saxophone legend David Sanborn and for having, produced, written and played keyboards for Prince on and off since his early days on the Twin Cities scene (perhaps most notably producing and arranging the song “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”).

Brian Simpson

Veteran music director of The Smooth Jazz Cruise Brian Simpson has had music at the core of his being since childhood. “Our house was filled with music. … I never really considered any other lifestyle,” says the keyboardist, composer and studio musician who earned his stripes in both the jazz and mainstream pop worlds touring with Teena Marie, Sheena Easton, Janet Jackson, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Larry Carlton, Kirk Whalum and Jonathan Butler. Brian Simpson co-wrote “The First Time” by Surface, a hit that soared up the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts.

DW3

R&B, jazz and Latin soul band DW3 has been entertaining for more than a decade, including encore performances on The Smooth Jazz Cruise. With Eric, William & Damon providing the LA-based band’s harmonious voices, outstanding musicians on keyboards, percussion, drums, bass and guitar round out the energetic group.

Alonzo Bodden

Season 3 winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Alonzo Bodden keeps the boat rolling – in laughter, rest assured – as comedian-in-residence for The Smooth Jazz Cruise. With a resumé that includes numerous appearances on the late-night circuit (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien Show, The Late Show with Craig Kilborn, The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show, and Comedy Central among others), television hosting gigs, voice-over roles and film credits, Alonzo entertains an audience masterfully.

Dane Butcher

Dane Butcher has been the Director of Cruise Operations and Programming for Entertainment Cruise Productions for over 10 years. Born in Australia, Dane has been in the entertainment industry since age 15. He began working in Australia on Television Shows and was featured in numerous commercials as well.

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Featured Photos

Entertainment Cruise Productions

Entertainment Cruise Productions is the most successful and most heralded theme cruise producer in the world. Having produced over 50 full ship cruise programs over the years, Entertainment Cruise Productions has produced The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Malt Shop Memories Cruise, Country Music Cruise, Soul Train Cruise, Celtic Thunder Cruise, Dave Koz Cruise, Playboy Jazz Cruise, The Elvis Cruise, North Sea Jazz Cruise, The Signature Jazz Cruise on Seabourn and The 80s Cruise. The formula used to make these cruises successful is very simple. We take a great cruise ship and substitute world class entertainment of a particular genre for the entertainment typically on the ship and add, further, events, parties and other interactive forms of entertainment that engage the guests with the artists and with the genre of the cruise. By doing so, we create a cruise experience unlike any other, particularly since all of our cruises are full ship charters where the entire passenger population is of one mind and one purpose.

At Entertainment Cruise Productions, your vacation is our responsibility and we take that responsibility very seriously.